2016 Motor Vehicle Occupant Safety Survey, Volume #4: Emergency Medical Services, Crash Injury Experience, and Other Traffic Safety Topics
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Summary
This report presents findings from Volume 4 of the 2016 Motor Vehicle Occupant Safety Survey (MVOSS), conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The study aims to provide nationally representative estimates of self-reported behaviors, attitudes, and knowledge regarding emergency medical services (EMS), crash injury experiences, and other traffic safety topics among U.S. adults aged 18 and older. The survey serves as part of a broader series examining occupant safety, with this volume specifically focusing on EMS utilization, crash consequences, cell phone use, speeding, alcohol-impaired driving, and air bags. The 2016 MVOSS employed a multi-mode methodology using address-based sampling, collecting data via web and mail questionnaires between June 2016 and February 2017. This marked a shift from previous telephone-administered surveys and changed the age eligibility from 16+ to 18+. The study yielded 11,419 complete questionnaires, split into two versions: Version A (6,009 respondents) covered speeding, air bags, cell phone use, and alcohol-impaired driving, while Version B (5,410 respondents) focused on EMS and emergency situations. Questions regarding crash injury experience appeared in both versions, allowing for analysis of the full sample. Data were weighted to reflect the national population, though the authors caution that methodological changes may affect comparability with prior survey years. Key findings indicate that 26% of respondents reported ever being injured in a motor vehicle crash requiring medical attention, with 12% experiencing disability for at least a week. Among those injured, 65% were treated in a hospital emergency room, and 44% were transported by ambulance. Regarding EMS, 57% of respondents had ever called 9-1-1, with motor vehicle crashes being the most common reason for using a wireless phone to report an emergency while driving (62%). Public opinion strongly supported EMS as an essential government service (92%) and favored funding it similarly to police and fire departments (77%). Additionally, 69% of respondents expressed willingness to pay more for improved 9-1-1 location services, and 72% were willing to pay more for better EMS equipment and training. The report highlights significant public confidence in emergency systems, with 91% expecting 9-1-1 operators to provide care instructions during medical emergencies. However, knowledge gaps exist, as 57% of respondents were unsure if 9-1-1 centers could identify their location without verbal confirmation. The findings underscore the prevalence of crash-related injuries and the high level of public support for robust EMS infrastructure. These results provide critical data for policymakers and safety researchers to understand occupant safety behaviors and public attitudes toward emergency response systems, informing future traffic safety initiatives and EMS resource allocation.
Key finding
Twenty-six percent of U.S. adults reported being injured in a motor vehicle crash requiring medical attention, and 92 percent considered emergency medical services an essential government service.
Methodology
survey
Sample size: 11419
Provenance
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Summary generated by qwen3.6-27b-prismaquant on 2026-06-10; verification: verified.
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Information type
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- Empirical Findings: observational prevalence, crash risk outcomes, self report data